Wichita eagle., 1887-07-14
Daily eagle
NEW BRITAIN ISLES.
WHERE BUTTERFLIES VIE IN SIZE
WITH THE HUMMlNG BIRD,
Trado With the Natives.Their Fear OF
the White Man-Curious Customs Con-
corning the Marriage Relation-Canni.
balism Still Practiced.

corning the Marriage Relation-Canni-
balism Still Practiced.
A gentleman who mas spent a number Of
years In the South seas as agent for German
mercantile house recently narrated the fol-
lowing account of his residence in the New
Britain group to reporter. The islands in
question are out of the beaten track, and be-
yond visits of war ships and small trading
and missionary vessels but little is known
to the general public regarding the habits and
customs of the natives on the group.
I'm 1856, said our informant, there were
two communications on the island Of Ma
tupi. in Blanche bay, the headquarters of the
Hamburg trading firm of Robertson & Herns-
helm, and the missionaries who live at sta
ton on Duke of York island, situated on the
channel between New Britain and New Ire
land Matupi. our head station, is very
healthy and fever Is unknown Tropical
vegetation is very luxuriant and varied.
Gigantic trees are covered with ferns orchids,
huge moses and parasitic growths of all de
scriptions. The mass of vegetation is so thick
and matted that it requires axwork to cut a
roadway through the jungle. Birds Of gor-
geous hue fit about amid the flowers and
leaves, scarcely distinguishable to an un-
practlced eye, while insects a butterflies
vie in size and coloring with the humning
bird
Our trade consists in purchasing copra,
dried cocoanut, hawksbill turtle shell, beche
de mer and few shark fins We give in ex-
change tobacco principally, but prints and
cotton goods, powder and knives are also ar
tlcles of barter. The natives are good agri-
culturists. In every little fissure of the
rocks and on hillsides are patches of sugar
cane and beds of yams and sweet potatoes.
Taro is also growing, and the plant requires
considerable irrigation, supplied by means of
artificial channels and dams, whereby the
mountain streams are conducted to the
fields J"
INHABITANTS ON THE ISLANDS.
"How many inhabitants are there on tho
islands,"
"Well, roughly speaking, 1 should state
about 10000 souls Since the German war
ships have visited us, number of villages on
the west side of New Britain have been dis
covered, and new trading stations will be
located. Cocoanut trees are very abundant,
and wherever dense groves were seen from
the vessels deck smoke was visible rising
from them, indicating the presence of natives
About the island Of New Hanover, which lies
little TO the north of the group, is almost a
terra incognita. The natives are very hos
tile, and have killed and eaten several white
men. They resist any attempt to re-estab-
lish trading posts So far as have seen from
a schooner's deck, the land on New Hanover
is rich soil-wide spreading plains covered
with wild sugar cane and cocoanut trees.
The mountains seem to be in the interior. as
the slopes gradually come toward the coast,
and the dense masses of vapor cluster over
Al.
"The native, as a rule, does not like to be
questioned He credits a white man with
possessing universal knowledge, and when
asked about an observance or ceremony usu-
ally returns evasive replies. In New Britain
there are customs that to talk about is Ia
booed, and some words are not permitted to
be spoken. Ny acquaintance with these peo-
pie and observations are, therefore, the only
guides to go by. The parents betroth their
children at early ages. The boy has to work
and pay for his wife in copra, cocoanuts or
trading tools. As the price fixed is generally
high, the boy becomes grown man before it
is finally paid. When the stipulated amount
is Gquidated the husband builds a small
house in the brush at some distance from his
village. He then persuades his fiancee to
elope with him, but with the knowledge of
her parents The discovery of the abduction
is then made, the girls father is indignant,
and the bridegroom's father comes to offer
sympathy and vows vengeance against his
son for disgracing him. Then all the rela-
tives on either side are called in and a
feast takes place The meal being ended
the men arm themselves and put on their
war paint starting out as if in search of a
foe. They know exactly where the house is,
and, of course, find it empty As the expedi-
ton would be shorn of its impreSsiveness if
some display were not made, the house is
burned and the party returns to the village,
where another feast is held. Next morning
the young couple are to be found in the vii
lage, and the remainder of the purchase being
paid, married life is entered into without
further inconvenience
CURIOUS CUSTOM.
THE custom prevails that a man pays off a
deceased brothers obligation in the matter of
making good any contract for payments
entered into for girl She becomes after
liquidation of the contract, part of his
household. When the father dies the children
are taken 10 the mothers village for support,
but the widow is never allowed to marry
again. In these islands curious custom pre-
walls which might be copied by civilized
nations to advantage. \ man must not speak
to his mother-in-aw. Not only is speech for
hidden to this relative but she must be avoid
ed; if by chance the lady is met the Son-in-
law must hide himself or cover his face
Suicide of both parties is the outcome if the
rule is broken. One of the English mission
aries tried to get at the natives idea of an
oath. and he found that the most solemn as
severation among them was: If | am not tell
ing the truth | hope | my touch the hand Of
INV mother in law Numerous idols carved
out of a white, chalk like stone are found IL
the group. but the natives say they are very
old, and seem 10 be in dread lest a white man
touches or looks at one. They are very rude
conceptions, and are generally found in the
vicinity of graves.
Although cannibaiiSm is reported by mis-
sionares to have died ous among the islands
in the South seas, it is far more common than
generally imagined. In New Ireland saw
big fight between two villages, and after the
battle the bodies of those who had fallen
were eaten. The bodies after being scalded
in hot water, are scraped with a bamboo knife
by old women. An old man cuts up the
bodies, taking care TO keep the thigh and
shin bones which are used for spearheadS.
After being wrapped in leaves the diSmem-
bered cadavers are placed in ovens dug in the
ground, and in four days are ready for eat
ing. The natives made no concealment Of
their disgusting meal, and during the feast
they held wild dancing and orgies The
preparation of Sago. cocoanut and human
brains is called Saksak, and is in great de-
81, -